Easy And Simple Steps On How to Gravity Bleed Brakes

If you replaced the Clippers or brake line recently, the high chances are that you allowed air into your braking system. As time continues, the amount of air continues to be trapped in your brake lines resulting to a mushy or soft feeling, when placing a foot on the brake pedal.

This is an inconvenience as well as a safety issue since your brakes might not perform correctly while increasing the stopping time greatly. The quiz you should be asking yourself is how to fix it.

Now, this where the gravity bleeding the brakes comes in handy since it manipulates your tubing to eliminate the trapped air bubbles. This solution is an easy and sure method which can make your brakes work perfectly. This process can be completed in thirty minutes; however, you might need a helping hand.

This article offers readers with detailed steps on how to gravity bleed brakes.

How To Gravity Bleeding Your Brakes

Step 2: Find Your Brake Fluid Reservoir

Then, you can be ready to begin the process of gravity bleeding the brakes. It is recommended you follow the following sequence; passengers, the rear, the driver rear, the passengers front, finally the drivers front.

Utilizing the automotive jack, lift the car until it is some distance above the ground level. Then remove all the four wheels. Be careful while removing the wheels since a small mistake can cause the vehicle to fall. After removing the wheels, you will be in a position to access the brake calipers.

Step 3: Fix The Plastic Tubing

Locate your brake fluid reservoir which is next to the brake calipers. After locating them, loosen your cover as well as the bleeder caps using the vise grip pliers. In case the bleeders start to drip a fluid, it is advisable you tighten the caps to avoid them weeping.

Step 4: Release The Air Bubbles

It should hang down from a supported stick or the garage door frame to the caliper. Most car owners get to secure the tube using a masking tape to the roof of the vehicle or the c-pillar.

Place one side of your plastic tubing above the bleeder at the first wheel, while lifting the other end of the plastic tubing for it to remain above the fluid reservoir. It necessary for the tubing to be extended higher than the reservoir for easy air cleaning.

Step 5: Close Your Bleeder And Replenish Brake Fluid Reservoir

To speed this process while boosting the effectiveness of gravity bleeding, continuously tap the brake calipers using the wood handle. Tapping will force the air bubbles to rise via the tubing. Check the brake fluid reservoir and make sure it is topped off properly.

In this step, you have to be careful not to make a mistake. Slowly open the bleeder nipple using the open-end wrench to see the fluid rising in your plastic tubing. You will see the air bubbles escaping. Your fluid will rise until to the height of your brake fluid reservoir in your vehicle.

Step 7: Test Drive As Well As Troubleshooting

Let the bleeder open until the fluid runs clear and completely free of the bubbles. After completing the process of bleeding your brakes from the four sides, you can tighten the bleeder caps using the vise grip pliers at every wheel.

Carefully follow the steps for bleeding your brakes. You to add the brake fluid in your reservoir as soon as you complete bleeding every brake to make sure the levels are topped off in the whole process. This process prevents air from getting in the braking system.

Step 6: Bleed The Remaining Brakes

Be careful in this step not to start the process again. Ask for some help to monitor the levels as well as replenish the fluid reduces when you remove the tubing and tight your bleeders.

Once the air bubbles have stopped to be emitted, tighten the bleeder and pull your tubing as you hold the jar to hold the fluid. Set the jar below the nipple then utilize the wrench in closing the bleeder. Pull the plastic tube off it. In case the brake fluid in your reservoir is not lifted, top it using the fresh fluid.

After completing tightening the bleeder caps, return the car’s wheel carefully and the lower your vehicle to the ground level. Take the car out to test drive and place a little pressure on the brake pedal. In case your brake pedal holds a constant pressure without it falling, then all is good.

But in case you press your pedal and start to feel that it is still mushy or very hard, it might mean that your Master Cylinder is not working or it is full of air. It is recommended that you take the car to an expert mechanic who will figure out what is making your MC not to work well. You may also find that there is a leak in the braking system.

Conclusion

Now that you know the steps above, the process of gravity bleeding the brakes should not be an issue. You should note that the process of gravity bleeding only applies to the firewall mounted systems, in situations where the MC is higher than the brakes of your wheels.

In case you consist an under floor mounted system, you may find it hard to enjoy the simplicity of gravity bleeding, and you may be forced to use reverse brake bleeding, vacuum, bench or pressure.